The last two Brooktrails Board of Directors meetings have dealt with a variety of township business including trash pickup rate hikes, lot donations and a significant donation to the fire department.

The public hearing for the 2013 trash pickup rates was held on Tuesday. Rates are determined by a combination of factors established in the township's existing contract with Solid Wastes of Willits. The net effect will be a rate increase of 3.31 percent.

The new rate will increase the monthly Brooktrails cost for weekly 35 gallon residential pickup to $31.01 effective January 1, 2013. Last year the cost for trash removal went up by 5.48 percent.

Fire Chief Daryl Schoeppner told the board about the $50,000 donation the fire department received from the Jack and Doris Langbehn estate. He advised the board the bequest was intended to be focused on firefighter training and equipment and was not available to offset general fund spending. Firefighters were already reviewing several potential training classes.

In October the Brooktrails Firefighters Association voted to use money gathered through fundraising to purchase two new structure ventilation fans for $3,200. No funds were available in the township budget for equipment purchases.

Schoeppner urged township residents concerned about the current State Responsibility Fire Fees should drop by the district office and get a packet of information about how to protest the tax bills.

The Utility Department hired two new employees, Robert McKenzie and Gilbert Fuentes. Both are Brooktrails residents. The district completed installing liners in two tanks. Lake capacity is at 38 percent as of October 31 and the district has received about 4.5 inches of rain. An estimated 1,500 feet of sewer line was cleaned during the month.

There was some discussion about the need to create a formal policy for lot donations, since each donation actually costs the district in up front costs and lost revenue. There currently is no written policy governing donations. One of the key issues has been how the donated property can be used in the future. Property designated for green-belt is restricted to that use. More preferable to the district is to have the property designated for "public use." This leaves the district with flexibility to use the property as determined by the board. In the past month the district has accepted five donated lots and some concern was expressed during the discussions that the pace of donations may be accelerating.

Nearly 700 Brooktrails lot owners have yet not paid the current year taxes, despite the recent lowered assessments. While most lot owners continue to pay their taxes, many are facing the current reality that they have minimal prospects for either building a home or selling the lot. A number of property owners are looking for ways to get out from under the tax burden and donating the lot to the district is becoming an attractive option.

Director Tony Orth says he and Director Rick Williams ad hoc specific plan committee is expecting to include this consolidation in a plan revision. Orth expects the committee's revision will take at least a year to work through.